NEWS:
Israeli occupation authorities [1] approve 600 new settlement [2] housing units in occupied East Jerusalem [3]. (AP/Ha'aretz/Jerusalem Post)
Israeli occupation authorities demolish [4]several Palestinian homes in the West Bank. (Ma’an)
Israeli occupation forces injure [5]two in a raid [6]on a Palestinian camp in the West Bank. (Xinhua/Ma’an)
A new document [7] exposes divisions and disagreements within Hamas. (YNet)
The PA approves [8] a $4 billion annual budget. (Xinhua)
Israel rejects [9] a US-Palestinian proposal to revive a committee to monitor incitement. (Ha'aretz)
Jordan is worried [10] about the fallout from Israeli-Palestinian peace talks [11]. (AP/Xinhua)
Israel is considering a bill annexing all Jewish settlements [12] in the occupied territories. (Ha'aretz)
Israel security chief [13] says Palestinian extremism is born primarily from economic hardship. (Xinhua)
Israel arrests a Palestinian man [14] accused of links to Al Qaeda and possessing biological weapons. (Ha'aretz)
Israeli authorities say they have thwarted a planned terrorist attack [15] on a wedding by Palestinian extremists. (Jerusalem Post)
Three Israeli settlers are indicted for "price tag attacks" [16] against Palestinians. (Ha'aretz)
The Red Cross is going to stop providing tents [17] to homeless Palestinians in the Jordan Valley. (YNet)
Israel's chief negotiator Livni blasts condemnation of Sec. Kerry [18] by her cabinet colleagues. (AP)
Extremist Israeli rabbis [19] say Kerry has "declared war on God [20]."
(Jerusalem Post/Times of Israel)
Israelis and Palestinians are feeling increasing pressure [21] from Kerry's initiative. (Xinhua)
Jewish-American groups [22] are keeping a low profile on Kerry's initiative. (JTA)
Some settlement company [23] CEOs are not losing any sleep over potential boycotts. (JTA)
An anti-boycott bill [24] that passed the New York State Senate is stalled in the Assembly. (JTA)
Israel's central bank chief is optimistic [25] about the integration of the "Arab sector" into the country's economy. (Ha'aretz)
Syrian unrest is spilling [26] into Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. (Ma’an)
Pres. Abbas sponsors [27] the wedding of 100 couples in Gaza. (Xinhua)
Gaza farmers are turning to growing herbs for a living [28]. (AP)
A UN report details [29] the abuse of children during Syrian war. (New York Times)
Syrian forces bomb a mosque [30], killing 11 people. (AP)
Large numbers of Syrian refugees [31] are stuck on the Turkish border. (Reuters)
US intelligence chief [32]Clapper says Pres. Assad has strengthened his grip on power. (New York Times)
US representative [33] to the Syrian opposition Ford is retiring. (New York Times)
Bombings [34] in central Baghdad killed 22 people. (AP)
Oil shipments [35] from Iraq to Jordan are halted due to security concerns. (Reuters)
Eight are killed [36] in a shootout between Tunisian security forces and extremists. (AP)
Libya says all its chemical weapons [37] have been destroyed. (AP)
12 are injured in an attack on an elementary school [38] in Libya. (Xinhua)
Bahrain increases the penalties [39] for insulting the king. (Reuters)
Egypt summons representatives [40] from Qatar and Bosnia due to pro-Morsi statements. (Xinhua)
Former Pres. Morsi's trial [41] resumes. (Xinhua)
King Abdullah of Jordan embarks [42] on a trip to the US and Mexico. (Xinhua)
Kerry [43]has completed a first whirlwind year [44]as Secretary of State. (AP/AFP)
COMMENTARY:
Peter Beinart [45] questions the actual commitment of mainstream pro-Israel American groups to a two-state solution. (Ha’aretz)
Thomas Friedman [46] says a third intifada is already underway in the form of nonviolent resistance and boycotts. (The New York Times)
Ali Ibrahim [47] says the ongoing peace talks represent the last chance for the
Palestinians and Israel to end this conflict. (Asharq Alawsat)
Carter Eskew [48] says his sources tell him that Obama appreciates Kerry’s drive and initiative. (The Washington Post)
David Gardner [49] says the ongoing Israeli settlements are killing any idea of establishing a viable Palestinian state. (The Gulf News)
The Gulf News [50] says the Palestinians should rely on a UN force as a buffer between Israel and a future Palestinian state. (The Gulf News)
David Horovitz [51] says the newly launched Arabic site of “The Times of Israel” will illuminate “Israel’s democracy.” (The Times of Israel)
Ben Caspit [52] says Israeli security officials recognize “historic” changes in Iran. (Al-Monitor)
The Jordan Times [53] says the US should start talking to the Syrian regime to end the war. (The Jordan Times)
Peter Millett [54] says Assad has to leave power. (The Jordan Times)
Madawi Al-Rasheed [55] questions the effectiveness of the new Saudi anti-terror law intended to prevent Saudis from joining the war in Syria and elsewhere. (Al-Monitor)
The Washington Post [56] says the US must demand the release of detained journalists in Egypt. (The Washington Post)
Wael Nawara [57] says the American “Working Group on Egypt” offered the wrong advice. (Al-Monitor)
Front Page Features